As Fifa was rolling out a familiar red carpet for Lionel Messi in Paris, from various corners of what the game’s governing body likes to call the “football family” there came garlands from clubs who would like to be part of his future.
Messi, to nobody’s surprise, collected Fifa’s The Best award for the finest male player of 2022 at Monday’s gala in the French capital and, as he greeted old friends and well-wishers, he could scarcely avoid questions about where he imagines he may be in six months time.
It had been a dream year, Messi told his audience on receiving his prize, one that will probably precede his winning an eighth Ballon d’Or, the sport’s more traditional marker of individual excellence, later this year.
He shared credit with his colleagues from the Argentina squad — “without them I wouldn’t be here” — for the vote-shaping World Cup triumph in December and namechecked two who were present in Paris, Lionel Scaloni, who had earlier picked up the prize for best coach, and Emi “Dibu” Martinez, named best goalkeeper.
Also in the auditorium were a number of representatives from Messi’s club, Paris Saint-Germain, including the president and the runner-up in Messi’s category, his striking partner at PSG, Kylian Mbappe.
In what was a brief acceptance speech, Messi concentrated on Argentina. He made no mention of winning the last Ligue 1 title with PSG, an achievement from within the period covered by the Fifa award.
That perceived omission — and Messi may simply have focused on the World Cup because the ceremony was a Fifa event — was noted in some of the places that aspire to make a new home for Messi when his current contract with PSG expires in the summer.
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Argentina World Cup winners Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Messi and Cristian Romero celebrate on board an open-top bus as they parade through Buenos Aires on December 20, 2022. AFP -
A police helicopter is seen carrying members of the Argentina team after the the victory parade was cancelled Reuters -
Argentina fans celebrate their World Cup-winning squad as they parade through the captial. AFP -
A fan of Argentina clings to a pole cheers as the team passes on the bus. AFP -
Fans of Argentina await the arrival of the team's bus. AFP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria with teammates during the victory parade. Reuters -
A helicopter of the Buenos Aires city police force carries Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni over the parade. Getty -
Argentina's players during the parade. AFP -
Aerial view of fans of Argentina waiting for the bus with Argentina's players to arrive at the Obelisk. AFP -
Argentina's players during the parade. AFP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi Angel Di Maria prepare to board a helicopter. AFP -
Argentina's players during the parade. AFP -
Argentina's players during the parade. AFP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria about to board a helicopter. AFP -
Fans of Argentina gather in Plaza de Mayo square. AFP -
Argentina's players celebrate on board the bus. AFP -
Argentina's players celebrate. AFP -
Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria and teammates celebrate on the bus. Reuters -
Lionel Messi on the victory parade. AFP -
Argentine football star Lionel Messi takes pictures with his phone while celebrating. AFP -
Lionel Messi waves to the fans. AFP -
Argentina's players celebrate. AFP -
Lionel Messi, left, chats with teammates Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi. AP -
Argentina team are welcomed home by adoring fans in Buenos Aires. AP -
Argentina fans wait for the bus parade. AFP -
Fans wait for the bus with Argentina's World Cup winners in Buenos Aires on December 20, 2022. AFP -
Fans of Argentina wait for the team pass to pass in Buenos Aires. AFP -
Argentina fans wait to greet their World Cup heroes. AFP -
Argentina fans wait to greet their World Cup heroes in Buenos Aires. AFP -
Argentina fans wait to greet their World Cup heroes in Buenos Aires. AFP -
Argentina fans wait to greet their World Cup heroes in Buenos Aires. AFP -
Argentina fans wait to greet their World Cup heroes in the victory parade in Buenos Aires. Reuters -
Argentina fans wait to greet their World Cup heroes in Buenos Aires. AFP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi and former player Diego Maradona on a banner next to the victory parade. Reuters
Talks have taken place on prolonging his stay with the French champions, who Messi joined in 2021 after 20 years attached to Barcelona, but at this stage the option to extend beyond June, when Messi turns 36, has not been triggered.
Eagerly monitoring that situation, among others, are Inter Miami, the MLS club in which David Beckham has a stake.
Messi and his family have long indicated that a move to the US, and specifically Florida, might be attractive. Some of Messi’s principal sponsors believe his direct exposure to the US market would be mutually beneficial.
The pedigree of the MLS is rising too, as it becomes a more respected nursery of young talent and standards rise. At the weekend Inter Miami manager Phil Neville was open about the club’s desire to elevate those standards further through the leading footballer of the 21st century: “I’m not going to deny there’s truth in the speculation that we’re interested in Messi,” Neville told The Times.
Seated not far from Messi at the ceremony was Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, proud that Barca’s Alexia Putellas again won the Best Women’s Player award, but discouraged at how the prize-giving reflected where Barcelona’s men’s team are in the current hierarchy.
The previous two editions had Robert Lewandowski on the top of the podium — while he was still at Bayern Munich. Lewandowski, who joined Barca last summer, did not make the top three this time around.
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It's finally his. Getty Images -
Argentina's captain and hero Lionel Messi celebrates with his family after winning the World Cup. AP Photo -
Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Golden Glove Award. AP Photo -
Argentina's Lisandro Martinez and his loved ones cherish the moment. Reuters -
Former Argentina player Sergio Aguero celebrates with the team. PA -
Messi also picked up the Best Player Award. EPA -
Messi received the award from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. Fifa president Gianni Infantino, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, right, were also on stage. EPA -
German Pezzella gets his hands on football's biggest prize. Getty Images -
Angel Di Maria, centre, was heroic for Argentina in the final. Getty Images -
Argentina players celebrate Gonzalo Montiel's World Cup-winning penalty. Getty Images -
Lionel Messi scored two goals and secured his first World Cup title. Getty Images -
A penalty shoot-out has to be one of sport's cruelest moments. Getty Images -
It is Argentina's third World Cup triumph. Getty Images -
Tearful players collapsed on the pitch in celebrations. AP Photo -
The South Americans won 4-2 on penalties, after it finished 3-3 in extra time. Getty Images -
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi embrace at the final whistle. Reuters -
Heartbreak for the holders at Lusail Stadium. PA -
Montiel celebrates scoring the winning goal. PA -
Some can't watch, others can. AP Photo
Laporta had little opportunity to speak with Messi, who won his seven Ballon d’Or titles while at Barcelona, although the president has been in contact with Messi’s father and adviser recently.
Xavi, the Barca manager, is meanwhile regularly in touch with Messi himself. “He’s a friend,” said Xavi last week, teasing at the possibility of an emotional return to Camp Nou, “This club is his home and the door here is always open.”
Messi keeps a family home in Catalonia, and his children were born there. But with Barcelona still confronting some of the financial constraints that, according Laporta, obliged them to let Messi leave 18 months ago, a move back would be beset with complications.
Just as romantic an idea as going back to Camp Nou is the scenario that has Messi seeing out what would probably be the last chapter of his elite career in the city of his birth, Rosario, and at Newell’s Old Boys, the club he watched as a child.
Messi’s friend and former Argentina striking partner, Sergio Aguero, gave that option some sustenance by telling a Brazilian radio show: “He’s seriously thinking about playing at Newell’s.” Others have sounded more sceptical.
The award-winner from Monday’s gala with most interest in where Messi goes, or whether he moves on from PSG, would be Scaloni.
Argentina’s manager, launched into stardom by a Messi-driven success at the World Cup, has a Copa America to prepare for, a title Argentina will be defending, in July 2024.
Scaloni wants Messi above all to be happy in his game, and still enthusiastic about the national team, whatever club he is at, by the time that tournament begins.
